Fish Identification (Test #3) Flashcards
How many endemic species of butterflyfish are there?
There are 5
How do butterflyfish group up
Monogamous Bond: Two fishes stay together
Did Hawaiians eat the butterflyfish?
No, they only ate them during times of famine
What do butterflyfish eat?
They eat live coral by using their pointed mouths like a tweezer for the polyps
What is the general shape of the butterflyfish?
Laterally compressed and disc-shaped.
What kind of anti-predation strategies do the butterfly fish use?
Disruptive Coloration: A lot of colors and contrast to confuse predators
Can Trumpetfish bend?
No, they are so stiff they nearly cannot bend
What is the general characteristic of trumpetfish and cornetfish?
They have elongate bodies
What is the difference between trumpetfish and cornetfish?
The trumpetfish cannot bend with like a paddle, the cornetfish kind of slink along with their thin caudal fins
What is a Piscivore? (Trumpetfish and Cornetfish)
Fish who consume other fish in a vacuum-like fashion.
What is shadow stalking?
Trumpetfish specific: They change colors to copy non-predator fishes. They scavenge after larger fish or eat herbivores
What do damselfish eat?
They eat algae and zooplankton. Sometimes they partner with sea anemonies.
Why are damselfish territorial?
They protect their batch of algae, harems, and nests.
Why should you avoid getting too close to a damselfish nest?
They protect their territory. If you scare them, other fishes will swoop in until they come back.
What is nuptial coloration?
They change or intensify color when they are ready to mate (damselfish)
Why is a false eyespot a form of misdirection?
They misdirect predators by leading them toward less vital areas. It also disrupts depth and distance judgments of predators
What do Hawaiian Gregory (damselfish) do to identify their algae patches?
They are evenly spaced out and confront intruders
Why do Hawaiian Dascyllus (damselfish) hover around or defend antler coral?
They are defending their algae patches.
What is the difference between filefishes and triggerfishes?
Filefish have long dorsal spine above their eyes and no scales (leathery skin).
What do filefish eat?
They eat a variety of invertebrates with their sharp incisiform teeth.
What is the defensive characteristics of a triggerfish?
They have hard body-armor fins, spiny dorsal fins, spiny caudal fins and sharp teeth.
What is the difference between the unicornfish and tangs?
Unicornfish have a pair of forward curved spines on the side of the back fin (caudal penduncle)
Unicornfish, Surgeonfish, and Tangs eat what?
Algae and Zooplankton
What is warning coloration?
Color patterns that warm predators. (The Orange Unicornfish has highlighted spines)
